Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa

Upon arrival the property looks really nice. The reception area is modern and clean. We had a good checkin experience although weren’t informed of check out times, where to have breakfast and other facilities. With 2 young boys and a long commute we just wanted to get to our room. We were in a family room which we had to amend to at a late stage. The hotel were accommodating and looked after this. We had room 433 which if I’m honest was pretty disappointing for the price. The room was cold and uninviting the furniture was tired and marked. The throw on the main bed had a massive stain on it and there was a few pieces of rubbish that hadn’t been removed. The room was adequate but definitely not luxurious. We ate in the Terrace lounge and they made an error with our dinner reservation and ended up moving a few times but we were offered complimentary drinks whilst we waited. The food in the Terrace was delicious both for adults and kids. The atmosphere for a Friday night was relaxed with just low background music and no TV’s. Breakfast the next morning was also very tasty and had more than enough selection for all tastes. We didn’t use the Spa facilities as there was an additional cost and also you had to be over 16. In summary Nice Hotel, great food, pity about the rooms.

When I first reserved this hotel I was hesitant due to the fact that is a 20 minute ride from Dublin City Center. About an hour by bus. However, that turned out to be the best part of the trip. We were there for 8 days and most every day we would take a cab into Dublin to see the sights or take a tour (Blarney and Cliffs of Moher). But every night my wife and I would finish our day on the hotel patio drinking a pot of tea or having a coffee. We would spend a couple of hours discussing the day and enjoying the peaceful evening. This is an excellent hotel mostly because the staff is exceptional. They are always friendly and eager to help make your stay the best it can be. The on site spa is damn good. I arranged for my wife to get a facial/massage package and she really enjoyed it. The lady that took care of her did an excellent job and was extremely knowledgeable about her craft. The dining was very good and the waitstaff very attentive and professional. The hotel is a 5 minute walk from the town of Dunboyne. It’s a small town with a few places to eat. We ate at O’Dwyers, it’s a family style pub with great food and cold Guinness! I highly recommend this hotel and I look forward to returning in the future.